I’m Satisfied w/ not Getting Electrocuted.

Following the unprecedented success in print sales from Coming Home to a Sherbet Twilight, I also looked to capture the opposite effect; the sunset during a disgusting storm. I only wish every sunset was sexy but it doesn’t always work out, especially after it rains.

To put this photo over the top I decided on converting it to monochrome, adding in a copper tint. I enjoy it every time: when I’m able to witness those light rays striking through the clouds and spotlighting the land below. Now that’s the sexy part. ^_^

More Entertainment Than it was Competition.

Red Bull Flugtag made it’s 2010 premiere at Miami’s Bayfront Park! For those not familiar with this event, enthusiasts are given the opportunity to express themselves via the assembly of man-made flying crafts. During the actual event, these teams wheel their devices off the Red Bull Flight Deck. They are mainly judged on flight distance in addition to creativity and showmanship. This is the ultimate promotion formula for Red Bull as an estimated 85,000 witnessed Flugtag alongside Biscayne Bay.

LBJ & CB Alongside Flash

It’s been a few days since the announcement so I’m simply telling you what you already know. Even the hospital coma patients are aware of Lebron James’s new $110 million, 6-year contract with the Miami Heat. Just as important, Chris Bosh (5-time NBA All-Star) has also joined the squad. Not to mention, Dwyane Wade has opted out of free agency to re-sign.

Let’s make something clear: I don’t engage in the bandwagon thing. My heart will always be with the Lakers. However, being a Miami resident, it would be inhumane for me to not like what just happened. Obviously the Miami economy is approaching the launching pad for take-off, not to mention: season tickets sold out entirely within a couple days; a complete 360 degree turnaround from last season. The Heat are indeed back in business.

As soon as I heard about the Welcome Party for the Big 3, I got in contact with media relations over at the American Airlines Arena and they were kind enough to allow me access for photo coverage. (Thanks so much to Liz & Jeff) It was great, simultaneously being an arm-length away from Bosh, James & Wade during the press conference. c:

This is noteworthy: During the interview of Heat’s General Manager Pat Riley and Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, they made very clear on the intension of bringing in a couple other Big Names for next season. Where in the world did they get all of the cap space!? Seems like a worthy investment if you ask me.

The Most Legendary Landmark in Dwntwn

Well, you can’t even see it in this shot, but the Freedom Tower encapsulates 85 years of Miami history. You can’t say that about too many structures still standing in the dwntwn area.

Currently, this guillotine is still on display just outside the Freedom Tower, apparently for the awareness of past torture methods used by… yea, I really have no idea why this random guillotine is out there. But I was asked to take a shot of it for a last minute assignment a couple months ago. Came out pretty well, but I made sure to keep my distance. :p

Massive Rollout Success of “Sherbet Twilight”

Well damn, it’s really hard to follow a photo like my last: Coming Home to a Sherbet Twilight. This Eyecandy has become the most successful rollout for prints sold! I try not to have high expectations but I’m glad this print is doing so well. You can buy this photo too! (They start at a marvelous $12) Head over to my Eyecandy Portfolio now! If you need help, view the Screenshot Tour on how to buy prints at xynntii.com/buyprints. Thanks to all the enthusiasts thus far!

Deadmau5 w/ His Groupie Audience

The mosts memorable photo opp I had since coming to Miami has been Ultra Music Festival. I’ve actually released about a dozen photos from Ultra 12 because it’s been hard for me to narrow them down to a couple. So many renowned DJs and artists come out and perform, such as will.i.am, David Guetta, Tiesto and Deadmau5 (just to name a few out of personal bias).

Most importantly, Miami’s Bicentennial Park houses this event every year, which is located right off the water near the Port of Miami. The ginormous stages that are construct reach insane heights, especially the main stage which usually attracts the larger crowd. I could talk about Ultra for days, but the fact remains: you have to come experience the event for yourself, annually during the last week of March.

You Might Not Understand This, But You May.

This is Talitha Anyabwele, a client from May. I was fortunate enough to photograph her while she was in Miami on business. We set up at the sexy Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key. She’s a great spirit and is a theater actress of her own show called Black Girl Speaks. Go to her website to learn more about the performance and locations!

I was feeling pretty damn artistic the day I decided to take this specific photo in a different direction. The original actually looks fairly different from the end result. I don’t know exactly what I created, but it looks more like it could be Talitha’s Avatar, minus the blue scaly flesh. I don’t want there to be a misconception: all of her shots were not edited to look this way. I decided to experiment on this one to see what I could create. This editing style is definitely a premiere to my Eyecandy Portfolio. Perhaps only the open-minded will be able to view and understand such an image; it’s not the typical shot.

Lakers! Love you guys and the entire front office! I’m looking forward to the 3-Peat run next season! ^_^

Don’t Mess w/ Her; I’m Serious!

Thanks so much to Darren Lewis, top security at Miami’s Epic Hotel, for allowing me to barge in for some night shots! Be sure to click on his name and request him via facebook. He’s kinda old so he doesn’t really believe in Twitter (amateur! ^_^) I’ve visited Epic countless times and never realized what great scenery its vantage point captures. It’s from this location where I also grabbed the shot from Vacating Brickell w/ the Quickness!

Well, she’s definitely been running things in Dwntwn Miami for quite some time and deserves the title Head Bitch in Charge! Although the Four Seasons in the Brickell District has surpassed the Wachovia Financial Center as the tallest skyscraper in Miami, its exterior design and time period from which it came simply cannot be matched. During the summer of 2008 when I first landed in Miami, I would have never guessed that this masterpiece came from the early 80′s! For this tower to still look so modern is remarkable, considering how often Miami goes under construction.

I’m Tellin’ You: Ultra Never Gets Old!

Be sure to friend request me via facebook. I released this photo to my facebook friends way back in March along with 99 other great Ultra 12 images! For those not too familiar with Ultra Music Festival… it’s pretty much the sheeeiit! It the largest and most successful electronic music venue in the United States. This year, it easily surpassed its record, attracted more than 100,000 during the 2-day event.

What I look forward to more than anything is Ultra 13! From what I hear, the venue will be extended for a day and just may double in size. This, by far, was the most amazing photo opportunity I’ve had thus far. Another ginormous music venue, that usually succeeds Ultra and takes place every April, is Coachella! The west coast hosts this; I really look forward to attending next year (unrealistic goal).

:xynn tii imagery Newsletter Approaching Circulation!

During the fourth quarter of this year, Eyecandy Newsletter will be delivered to your inbox!  Email that is, and I’ll make sure they live up to their name; less text, more graphics! A great HTML Email Team will assist me as these monthly Newsletters will highlight everything present and upcoming for :xynn tii imagery within the calendar month. Also Included will be a great stream of the latest images released by :xynn tii imagery (an easy way to play catch-up if necessary!) Eyecandy Newsletter will share the same design and theme as Eyecandy Portfolio. Consistency, so you don’t get confused or lost. =D

This will be an excellent leap forward in the marketing department for the company, as I know people love to share fun and interesting emails by forwarding them to family and friends! I love making everything entertaining and user-friendly; a colorful and inviting monthly Newsletter will be a great addition to my repertoire. Stay tuned for yet another way to enjoy and share my Eyecandy! c:

Kim Clijsters w/ the Quick Smackdown

If you just started following :xynn tii imagery then you may have missed out on my first image from the Sony Ericsson Open 2010. Let’s all go back for a moment to Venus Williams = Pretty Damn Intimidating, my favorite Media shot thus far. Even though Venus looks sizzling in the photo, Kim Clijsters cooled her way down during game time. Clijsters managed to deliver the ass whooping within an hour, taking home the trophy with that Belgian smile of hers. Game Over!

Considering how distracted as I was by the insufferable heat, I was surprised to  get a nice colorful shot of the entrance along with some attendees. I was actually standing in the rush hour traffic as I took this. As usual I received a great deal of blank stares and car-honking.

Miss Out on the Premiere?

If you did… I forgive you, but let’s get you up to speed on the latest. My Eyecandy Portfolio came to life on 1 June! The grand opening went pretty snazzy and I made sure to celebrate the occasion responsibly with a handful of Associates here in Miami FL! You can check out the photos from the party I hosted over at my facebook profile. Yea, that was clearly a joke; I just wanted to find a way  to sneak in my facebook link. ^_^

At any rate, make sure to check out the Screenshot Tour I created for Eyecandy so you can get familiar with all the nice features. The greatest thing about Eyecandy is that you can buy prints directly within the Portfolio! This redefines what it means to have a user-friendly site!  I created a separate Screenshot Tour for purchasing prints as well, over at xynntii.com/buyprints. Prices start at a remarkable $12 and because of this, they are selling pretty damn well; much better than I projected for this first week. Get in on the fun: Go consume (and buy) my Eyecandy today!

Yohji Yamamoto = Genius!

Last summer, around the time I had just established :xynn tii imagery as a company, I tagged up with Ludwing Laboriel to embark on a awkwardly diverse photo session. Nothing was really planned, we just rolled with whatever. I have to admit: most of the shots involved his abdominals more so than anything else.

We took some editorial shots at the amenities level of my condo residence and in the studio, which turned out great! But I enjoyed the candid ones the best! We walked randomly in the dwntwn streets, Ludwing with guitar  in one hand, and a colossal ego in the other. It was funny how many blank stares we attracted.

Ahh, those sunglasses; the most superior eyewear I’ve ever witnessed. Fortunately in 2002, Japanese high-fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto and Adidas went into collaboration to mold the Y-3 brand, Adidas Style. I’ve been following Y-3 for a few years now and they’ve become a serious powerhouse, considering that the brand combines elements of couture with that of sportswear. It’s worthy of attention! It’s pretty pricy, but as I always say, “You get what you pay for.” Marinate yourself in Adidas Style by visiting y-3.com.

By the way, those are MY shades! Ludwing just borrowed them for the photos. Sorry, I couldn’t hold that one in; my self-indulgence made me do it! =/